The Chicago Bears’ storied history of Hall of Famers will gain two more in 2020.
Bears offensive lineman Jim Covert and defensive end/linebacker Ed Sprinkle have been named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Centennial Class, NFL Network revealed on Good Morning Football Wednesday morning.
Covert and Sprinkle are among 10 senior inductees — all of whom last played in the NFL more than 25 years ago — who were chosen from 20 finalists last week at the Hall of Fame.
Covert, the sixth overall pick the 1983 NFL Draft, was a cornerstone piece of a Bears offensive line that led the NFL in rushing for four consecutive seasons from 1983-86 with all-time great Walter Payton. Covert played his entire nine-year career with the Bears, during which he was a two-time All-Pro selection, member of the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team and a Super Bowl XX champion.
Sprinkle, who played his entire 12-year NFL career with the Bears from 1944-55, was part of the Monsters of the Midway, who won the league championship in 1946. He made four Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1940s.
Sprinkle has been called everything from “the meanest man in football” to “the greatest pass rusher I’ve ever seen,” by George Halas.
Following the Centennial Class’ induction, the Bears will have 30 Hall of Famers, which continues to be the most in NFL history.
